Occupation · SOC 27-3092
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.
Median wage
$67,310
$39,100–$127,020
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
12,630
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
37 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSpeakingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
English LanguageAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareWord processing softwareOffice suite softwareVoice recognition software
Representative tasks
Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.Transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats.Log and store exhibits from court proceedings.File a legible transcript of records of a court case with the court clerk's office.File and store shorthand notes of court session.Respond to requests during court sessions to read portions of the proceedings already recorded.Verify accuracy of transcripts by checking copies against original records of proceedings and accuracy of rulings by checking with judges.Record symbols on computer storage media and use computer aided transcription to translate and display them as text.Take notes in shorthand or use a stenotype or shorthand machine that prints letters on a paper tape.Type court orders for judges.Record depositions and other proceedings for attorneys.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Verbatim recording equipment — operate under direct supervision during simulated or observed court proceedings.Electronic stenograph machine keystrokes — practice and apply following established training protocols in a classroom or entry-level court setting.Inaudible or unclear speaker statements — recognize and request clarification under the guidance of a supervising reporter.Shorthand notes from court sessions — file and store following office procedures with direct oversight.Transcript proofreading — perform basic review for spelling errors using word processing software under supervisor direction.Established transcript formats — apply consistently when transcribing recorded proceedings from provided templates.Court exhibits — log and store under supervision according to clerk office protocols.English language conventions — apply foundational grammar and vocabulary rules when preparing draft transcripts.Voice recognition software — use at a beginner level to support transcription tasks in a supervised work environment.Transcript requests from judges or lawyers — acknowledge and route to a supervising reporter following established office procedures.
developing
Verbatim proceedings — record routinely using computerized stenograph equipment during live court sessions with minimal oversight.Transcript drafts — proofread independently for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors before submission to the court clerk's office.Speaker clarification — initiate professionally and efficiently during committee meetings or depositions to maintain accurate records.Completed transcripts — provide to judges, lawyers, or members of the public upon request following court timelines and confidentiality standards.Recorded proceedings — transcribe in compliance with jurisdiction-specific formatting requirements using word processing and office suite software.Court exhibit records — manage logging and storage consistently across multiple cases within a clerk's office environment.Shorthand session notes — organize, label, and archive systematically to support efficient retrieval during ongoing litigation.Time management — apply effectively to balance simultaneous captioning assignments and transcript delivery deadlines in a court or legislative setting.Law and government terminology — use accurately when transcribing legal proceedings to ensure record integrity.Electronic mail and database software — use to communicate transcript status and respond to stakeholder inquiries in a court services environment.
proficient
Complex verbatim proceedings — capture autonomously at high speed and accuracy using stenomasks, electronic stenographs, or computerized systems across varied legal and legislative venues.Multi-speaker or high-volume transcripts — proofread and finalize independently, resolving ambiguous content through contextual legal knowledge and established reference resources.Real-time simultaneous captioning — provide during live court proceedings or broadcast events, maintaining accuracy and compliance with accessibility standards.Legible and properly formatted court transcripts — file with the court clerk's office without supervision, ensuring full compliance with local, state, or federal court rules.Non-routine clarification situations — handle with professional assertiveness, including interrupting proceedings appropriately to preserve transcript accuracy.Full exhibit and record lifecycle — oversee independently from intake through storage and retrieval across concurrent court cases.Voice recognition and ERP software — configure and troubleshoot to optimize transcription workflow in a professional court reporting environment.Transcript turnaround commitments — manage autonomously, prioritizing urgent judicial requests against regular delivery schedules without supervisor guidance.Confidential case records — safeguard with strict adherence to ethical and legal standards governing court documentation and public records access.Legislative assembly and committee proceedings — record and transcribe autonomously, adapting to procedural variations across different governmental bodies.
advanced
Court reporting standards and best practices — establish and communicate across a team of reporters and captioners to ensure organizational quality and consistency.Emerging transcription technologies — evaluate, select, and implement at an organizational level to modernize workflow and improve court record accuracy.Junior and developing court reporters — mentor and assess, providing structured feedback on stenography technique, transcript quality, and professional conduct.Agency-wide transcript formatting and filing policies — develop and enforce in alignment with court administrative requirements and evolving legal mandates.Real-time captioning accessibility programs — lead design and delivery of, collaborating with court administrators to meet ADA and public access obligations.Cross-functional relationships with judges, court clerks, and legal counsel — cultivate strategically to align reporting services with institutional needs and procedural changes.Organizational competency framework for court reporters — design and oversee, mapping skill progression from entry-level recording to advanced simultaneous captioning.Technology adoption roadmaps — author for court reporting divisions, integrating voice recognition, database, and ERP systems into long-term operational planning.Ethical and legal compliance protocols — lead development of, ensuring all reporters adhere to confidentiality, integrity, and chain-of-custody requirements across the organization.Stakeholder reporting on transcript services — prepare and deliver to court leadership and government bodies, using data from time accounting and database systems to guide resource decisions.
Also known as
38 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Paralegal Helper (Air Force 5J011)LDO - Judge Advocate General Corps (Navy 655)Stenotype OperatorElectronic Court RecorderParalegal Apprentice (Air Force 5J031)Deposition ReporterParalegal Superintendent (Air Force 5J091)Transcript ClerkCourt MonitorParalegal Specialist (Army 27D)Hearings ReporterCaption WriterRealtime CaptionerJourneyman Paralegal (Navy 001482)Shorthand ReporterCourt TranscriberText TranscriberStenocaptionerParalegal Craftsman (Air Force 5J071)Court ReporterCourt Recording MonitorVoice Writing ReporterJudicial ReporterCertified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)Stenographer, Print ShopOfficial Court ReporterDigital ReporterRealtime Court ReporterParalegal Journeyman (Air Force 5J051)Legal Administrator (Army 270A)Legalman (Navy LN)Legal Services Specialist (Marine Corps 4421)Court RecorderRecorderParalegal (Air Force 5J0X1)Court StenographerStenographerDigital Court Reporter